How much does a brake pad and rotor replacement cost?

When your auto technician recommends a brake pad and rotor replacement, how can you tell that the job is necessary? How much will it cost? Will the cost be worth the repair? Read on for the answers to these questions. 

Starting with a simpler brake 

Because a vehicle’s braking system is so complex, let’s look at a bicycle’s braking system to better understand how brakes work. Although much simpler in design, the principles at play are the same, and you can easily see the system at work. 

A common braking system seen on bicycles is the rim-style brake: when you apply pressure to the brake levers on your handlebars, you increase the tension on cables that connect to the brake calipers, which squeeze the brake pads against the tire rim. 

It’s a simple design, but problems can easily crop up that will harm your ability to stop: 

• Loose cables can prevent the calipers from fully squeezing the pads against the rim. 

• Worn brake pads can cause metal-on-metal contact. 

• Rust and other damage to your rim can make it difficult for the brake pads to get a solid grip. 

Now, replace a bike’s tire rim with a vehicle’s brake rotors, the cable with a complex hydraulic and electrical system, and the brake levers with a car’s brake pedal – and you have a basic understanding of how brakes work. 

Breaking apart brake parts 

Your vehicle’s braking system is a complex network run by electricity and hydraulics, so it’s easy to get lost in all the parts. These are the main components of a braking system: 

• Brake pedal: This is the part you see and use in the cabin. Pressing on the brake pedal activates the braking system, just like when you squeeze your bike’s brake levers. 

• Dual master cylinder: Among other functions, the dual master cylinder contains the reservoir for brake fluid. When you press on the brake pedal, you activate the dual master cylinder. 

• Brake lines and hoses: These connect the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders and allow brake fluid to flow through the system. 

• Brake rotors: These rotate with your wheels. When you press on the brake pedal, the entire system activates to apply pressure on these rotors to slow your vehicle down, just as your bike’s braking system applies pressure to the wheels’ rims. 

• Brake pads: Designed to wear with use, brake pads are the contact point between the calipers and rotors. 

• Brake calipers: These house your brake pads and pistons and apply pressure to the rotors via the brake pads. 

Your braking system contains many more components than what we’ve listed here, and you’d need an automotive textbook to review them all. If any become rusted, broken, or otherwise damaged, your ability to safely brake can be affected. 

While a bike’s braking system can be DIYed with relative ease, only experienced automotive DIYers should attempt any repairs to their vehicle’s braking system. So, let’s dive into what professional repair and maintenance look like. 

Replacing brake pads and rotors 

Have your brakes checked each time you take your car in for service to alert you early to any problems. Because drivers often adjust their driving to suit their brakes, they rarely notice problems right away, like worn brake pads. 

A technician can quickly measure how much material remains on the brake pads and also look for other common signs of wear and use, such as too little brake fluid (sometimes called brake oil), leaks, rusting, and more. 

So, when will a technician recommend having your brake pads and rotors replaced? 

Replacing brake pads 

Your car likely comes with at least one of two warning signals that your brake pads are too thin: 

1. A wear indicator in the form of a metal tab that’s buried beneath the surface of the pad and comes into contact with the brake rotor as the pad wears. This creates the squealing sound drivers hear when they press on the brake pedal. When the pads are worn and the tab is fully exposed, you’ll hear a constant squealing. 

1. A warning light illuminates on your dash. This system uses electrical signals received from sensors in the pad material. 

If you postpone replacing the pads, you’ll eventually damage the rotors. Then, what may have been one repair quickly becomes two. 

Brake pads can start at around $85/pad, but many factors go into selecting the right pads for your vehicle. Keep in mind the technician’s hourly rate for the service, which can be anywhere from $80 to $180 per hour, is on top of that. 

As you can see, price depends on many considerations, so get an estimate from your automotive technician before going ahead with the service. 

Replacing brake rotors 

New brake rotors are smooth. With time, they develop signs of wear, such as indentations, rust, and scratches. Although brake rotors are usually replaced less often than brake pads – about once every 100,000 km – always have them inspected when you get your brake pads replaced. 

Also, consider a brake rotor replacement if you notice any of the following: 

• Squealing, despite your brake pads having sufficient thickness 

• Vibrations in your steering wheel or pulsing in your brake pedal when you brake 

• Other unusual sounds, such as grinding or banging 

• Visible damage to the rotors 

Brake rotors start at around $100/piece, so $400 minimum for one vehicle. An automotive technician’s hourly rate comes on top of that. Therefore, maintaining your brake pads can save you money: it delays brake rotor replacement. 

Labour costs for replacing both 

It can take up to six hours for a professional automotive technician to replace the brake pads and rotors on a car. However, that number can drop to two or three hours for some vehicles. This is why asking for an estimate is important. 

For more information 

Contact your local NAPA AUTOPRO service centre to have your brakes inspected and to get a quote on any necessary brake services. 

Photo: iStock-1837649249